Weekly Writing Tips: Aim To Inspire

Your story holds power to captivate readers, so dig deep and get vulnerable.

This week’s writing tips are all about writing inspirational nonfiction books. Sometimes, you have a great spark for an idea, but the connection between you and your audience isn’t quite there. Here are a few techniques to make sure that you’re connecting with your audience and bringing your message to people in a meaningful way.

Start with Something You Know

If you’re having trouble writing, start with a story you know best—one about your own life. How can you make a small piece of your life interesting? What’s a favorite memory you have that you think others might enjoy if you share it?

We can’t tell you how often we’ve heard the phrase, “but my life isn’t interesting enough.” Trust us. Someone, somewhere, wants to hear from you.

Maybe that anecdote about you taking your sister to Dairy Queen for her birthday will remind someone else to give their own sibling a call. Maybe your story about volunteering at a pet shelter will inspire someone else to volunteer in their community. These are just examples, but we all have stories to tell. Dig deep, and find what stories of yours you want to share with the world.

Share Something (a little too) Personal

Remember that embarrassing story that you kind of wanted to keep under wraps? That might be just the thing to break the ice between you and your readers. Readers want to learn from you—but first, they have to trust you. And that means they want to know your flaws. What makes you human, just like them? Share a little bit about yourself to earn your readers’ trust and build those bridges.

What counts as a personal? Maybe it’s a time you felt down or sad. Maybe it’s a time you failed as a friend or a parent. Maybe it’s a time during which you made a poor choice and learned from the outcome. Whatever your story is, you’re the hero in it; you’ve got to give yourself challenges.

Lean Into the Details

People are reading your book because they’re curious about you. Give them what they’re looking for. Set the scene for your readers. Dig into more than just one sense—explore all five. Give sounds, smells, touch, and taste (where applicable) for a well-rounded experience. Nonfiction is tricky because it’s got to be believable (even though it’s real!). Give your readers the world so they can follow you.

Nonfiction writing is not just about laying out the facts; it’s about creating a story within those facts. And you’re the best person to do that. Your readers want to be swept up in your story. We’ll talk more about finding the arc of your nonfiction in later tips.

Whether you have a finished manuscript, or you're dealing with writer's block and need a coach, we're here to help. Contact cynthia@cgcommunication.com to get started today!